Like nearly everything else, it is possible to pay someone else to trim your landscape plants. However, it is much more economical to learn how to properly prune your trees and shrubs yourself. Additionally, the exercise gives some people great enjoyment, as it is an excuse to be outside and enjoy fine weather and fresh air. There are different techniques to pruning, and different times of the year when such pruning is appropriate. By keeping a careful watch on your yard and paying attention to when your trees bloom, you can make sure to keep your landscape in the best shape through careful pruning.

Deciduous trees and bushy plants. These woody trees and plants are best pruned in early spring while they are still dormant. Some plants, however, go through a process of “bleeding,” when sap runs out of the cuts. While this does not actually harm the plant or tree, it can cause homeowners distress and worry. Therefore, when pruning plants that tend to bleed (such as maple, box elder, black walnut, elm, birch, and honeylocust), it is also acceptable to wait until they are fully leafed out.

Woody bushes like lilac, spirea, mock orange, viburnum, and forsythia should be pruned immediately after blooming. These plants have flowering buds that are produced every previous growing season. And, by pruning such plants directly after they bloom, you will be able to decorate your house with the sweet smelling blossoms on the pruned branches. These small branches, and the thin, small branches of a tree, may be cut with ease all the way through with only a single cut.

When removing a large branch on a tree, however, you will need to make three cuts. This will help you avoid tearing the bark. The first cut is placed on the under side of the branch, and should be located about 12 inches from where the branch meets the trunk. This cut is not very deep — only one-fourth to one-third of the way through the branch. Next, a cut should be made on the topside of the branch, and should be about two inches farther from the trunk than the first cut. Saw completely through the branch on the second cut. The last cut on the branch should be just beyond the branch collar. Leaving a stub encourages disease, and cutting the main trunk produces a wound that heals slower.

Evergreens. Evergreens have a slightly different consideration that the deciduous woody plants. They can be pruned in the early spring, but you should ensure that the new growth has hardened. Evergreens can be pruned practically any time between mid-April and mid-August. It is important to have them trimmed before mid-August because if you wait any longer, they may not recover from their wounds in time to withstand the winter.

Pruning of evergreens should be based upon the presence of their branch foliage. Do not cut beyond the green foliage portion. If you continue to prune, lightly, evergreens such as arborvitaes, yews, and junipers, each summer, they will eventually be a thicker and fuller plant. Failure to prune will result in scraggly-looking trees. Larger junipers and other plants may need a size reduction. In order to do this, follow the branches to be cut until you find new small growth that parallels the branch. Make your cut, diagonally, just beyond the reach of this smaller, parallel branch.

In some evergreens, you will find that the top has been lost due to injury. In such cases, you need to “build” a new top. This can be done by selecting the largest of the whorls nearest the top and by gently bending it up. Tie the branch to an attached brace, using a non-girdling material such as cloth. Then cut back the other lateral branches so that they cannot compete with the branch chosen as the new top. As with deciduous trees, it is important to cut back to a side branch or bud, and to leave no stubs.

No matter what type of tree you are pruning, the practices of topping, hat-racking, and heading are not recommended. These methods of trimming are not true pruning techniques, and they result in small shoots, called suckers, to form near the cut surface. These suckers are weak and rarely attractive, and they can distort the shape of the tree. And once improperly pruned, a tree may never return to its characteristic form.

Masni Rizal Mansor is successful author and publisher for http://www.buy-trees-online.com. Get the best of evergreen trees and flowering trees at a discount price.

Source: High Quality Article Database - 365Articles.com

So you have decided to switch from your analog television to HDTV. We would like to congratulate on your decision, but you also need to know a few things before you can successfully switch to HDTV. It is a simple process, but only if you know how to. Following is a basic guideline as to what you need to do.

Obviously the first thing you need to do is to have a television that supports HDTV. You basically have three options. First of all, you can go and get yourself an HDTV-ready set which comes with a built-in tuner that will help your new TV to receive the HDTV signals and decode it for you to receive the images. You also have the option to get an HDTV-capable set which doesn’t come with the tuner built-in and you have to install it separately. The final option you have is to attach a converter to your old set which will convert HDTV to analog. This would make it possible for you to view the HDTV programming but you wouldn’t get the same quality of images and pictures.

On choosing the set you will also have to decide among a plasma set, an LCD and a rear projection set. Your choice should depend on the budget you have, the amount of space you have to place your TV, and your viewing preferences. Don’t just jump to your conclusion, take your time and shop around. You have to decide on the size of the set also since the size of the screen should be proportional to the distance from where you watch the screen. While most of the sets available in market are pretty big, it is expected smaller sized sets will arrive by 2007. They will also bring down the prices which now is a bit on the higher side.

Once you have decided on the set the next thing you need to make a decision on how you are going to receive your signal. Again you have three options - over-the-air antenna, cable service or satellite service. For the local channels you might need the antenna as they wouldn’t be available with most cable and satellite service providers. You can have a satellite or cable connection in addition to your antenna. For that you will need to install a separate set-top box. You can either rent it or buy it. Before selecting your cable or satellite provider, do some research to find out exactly which provider suits you the best.

Source: High Quality Article Database - 365Articles.com

I recently had the need to come up with relatively useful definitions of some roofing terms and also some guides and opinions regarding roofing methods. I stumbled upon some useful online resources that provide the things that I need and also may also be helpful to other users out there.

Here is a list and some descriptions of some of the sites I have found:

1. Garlandco.com – It is a roofing company that has been in business since 1895. What generally caught my attention was their PowerPoint presentation that provides an overview of the most common types of roofing systems that are available in the commercial market place today. Other information include in the presentation are brief description, history and application of each system and lastly, the advantages and disadvantages of each roofing system.

2. Roofing.com – It is a forum all about roofing. Its main feature is a forum area where there are active members. All posts are related to roofing and most members are highly knowledgeable when it comes to roofing both in theory and in practice.

It also has a Knowledge base area wherein forum members can give inputs like answers to frequently asked questions and some roofing guides. Within this area, you can find the definitions to most roofing terms.

The site also has a section wherein you can view the number of roofing jobs available per state. It also has a directory of roofing companies categorized by state.

All in all, the site is quite user-friendly and highly informative. Most of my friends also think that it is one good online resource site if the subject is roofing.

3. Roofersreview.com – Is a highly informative site dedicated to roofing. Here you can find local roofers through browsing photos of their works. Also, this site has been suggested to me by members of Roofing.com. They say the pictures they upload to this site help them get quick answers from other users of the forum.

I would include the other sites that I find useful in another article which I may finish by next week. Until then, I hope you get the maximum benefit that you can from the following sites.

Jasper Bautista is a Web Marketing Specialist of
Agents of Value who is currently working on Roofing.com

Source: High Quality Article Database - 365Articles.com

What happened to being able to be comfortable in your own home? Unfortunately, high energy costs this winter resulted in many people having to turn down their thermostats, and instead bundle up in extra sweaters and socks. And rest assured it will only get worse. If the energy costs keep rising at the present rate, you could be dishing out over $1,000 per month just to heat your home by 2011. Add this to the cost of fuel to fill up your car, and suddenly you can see your pay cheque disappearing, as if by magic.

It is a fact that today’s well-informed homeowners are looking for newer, more efficient ways to build homes. They want strength, comfort and lower energy bills, while also allowing for flexibility of design and lower future maintenance costs.

Building technology has advanced greatly. Quality builders are using ICF’s (Insulated Concrete Forms) to create homes that are safer, stronger and healthier than ever before. This type of building is based on simple, interlocking, stacking “blocks” made from flame-retardant expanded polystyrene (EPS) panels connected by molded-in high density polyethylene structural foam bridging.

Filled with concrete, these blocks create a monolithic wall with a minimum insulation value of R25; which then because of the heat retaining properties of concrete increase their performance to R50.

They also have a fire rating which is just under four hours. In addition to all this, there is an added bonus of efficiency because building the walls of a home with ICF’s can take one half of the time (or less) of conventional construction.

The really good news is that now everyone can afford to live in one of these homes; everyone who is concerned about future energy costs and their environment. The initial investment is only about 10% more than the old way of building (wood-frame); but considerably less when you think of the long term costs of energy and maintenance.

Adding other energy efficient features, such as High Efficiency Tank-Less Water Heaters that can heat your whole house while giving you an endless stream of hot water; High Efficiency Low-E Argon Windows, Heat Recovery Ventilators connected to an “Earth Energy” system that pre-conditions incoming air, and Radiant Floor Heating which gives you the ultimate in comfort with body temperature heated floors, can slash 50% off of a homeowner’s monthly heating and cooling bills.

Gone are the days of buying a home for appearance sake only. A little bit of effort and common sense can go a long way in making your home more energy efficient. New homebuyers are consciously choosing to make informed decisions concerning their future and that of their family’s future. They are turning to homes which are more energy-efficient, and environmentally-friendly in addition to paying them dividends for years to come.

About the Author: Harvey Juric, ICF Consultant and CEO of ICFhome.ca is a custom home builder in southern Ontario. He runs several websites promoting energy efficient home. If you are interested in modern home building, his thoughts may be found on the following web sites: Insulated Concrete, Repairing/Building Contractor, Ontario Building Code, Luxury Home Home Design and Ontario-Home-Builder.com

Source: High Quality Article Database - 365Articles.com

Even if your home seems to be tightly sealed and well-insulated, if you have a foundation that’s not insulated properly, you will experience a large loss of heat.

Foundation insulation can result in lower heating costs and may help avoid water vapor condensation problems.

Poor foundation installation can make below grade rooms very uncomfortable and can result in many problems, to much moisture, radon infiltration, and an influx of insects.

Foundation insulation is especially important if you have radiant heat system. This article will outline the various types of insulation available.

When insulating your basement you need to make sure you avoid moisture problems. Moisture can cause mold and can result in physical damage to you interior finished walls, as well as your carpeting. And mold can seriously affect your health.

For a newly constructed home, proper placed footing drainage and waterproofing should avoid most moisture problems. For an existing home, if your basement shows signs of moisture problems, these problems should be addressed immediately.

When insulation is installed on the dirt side of a basement wall it has a lot of advantages and some disadvantages also. On a positive note, it decreases what is called thermal bridging which cuts down on heat loss through the foundation. It also protects the foundation water proof coating from damage when backfilling, and acts as a vessel to protect against moisture.

In extreme climates, during freeze-thaw cycles it can also protect your home from unwanted water and reduces the possibility of condensation on basement surfaces.

Some disadvantages would be that it’s expensive when installed in an existing building and it may still be vulnerable to an insect infestation.

Many experts believe that the best way to keep your basement dry is to insulate the exterior of the foundation walls with a rigid insulation board and a water-proof coating under that board that covers the entire foundation, from the footing all the way up to just below where finished grade will be.

A perimeter drainage system needs to be carefully designed and consist of perforated plastic pipe, per washed gravel, along with a good quality filter fabric especially in areas with poor soil drainage. This will help in keeping the rock free from dirt allowing the water to filter down into the perforated pipe.

For an existing home, adding insulation to the interior of the foundation is probably a more cost effective alternative. Plus, there’s a wide selection of materials available for almost every type of insulation.

If your foundation wall is masonry blocks, you can fill the cores of your blocks with high-pressured foam. This works far better than most of the other methods.

When insulating a Slab-on-grade the following ways should be done. You should insulate under the slab along with the edges of the slab, and between the footings and slab. This will reduce heat loss from both the foundation and the slab.

Remember that all exposed insulation needs to be protected from the elements in some way, whether using cement, metal, or some other kind of membrane.

For new construction insulation follow these guidelines: first comes about four inches of gravel and under-slab drainage and plumbing pipes, a layer of radiant barrier that is approved for concrete use, then one to two inches or rigid insulation, followed by two to three inches or sand, and lastly is the floor slab.

A floating floor is another alternative, which consists of – a finished wooden flooring (top), rosin paper and two layers of ½ inch plywood or OSB. Followed by a stiff foam board insulation. This will be quite easy to install and isolate the floor from the earth below.

Regardless of the method you choose, by properly insulating your foundation you will make sure your radiant heat system runs efficiently and effectively for years to come.

– Resource Box –

This article may be distributed freely on your website, as long as this entire article, including working links and this resource box are unchanged.

Copyright 2006 Larry Lang All Rights Reserved.
Lang Enterprises Inc.
www.radiantheatingdisasters.com

Source: High Quality Article Database - 365Articles.com

Looking to get approved for your very first home mortgage?
Here are the tips that you need to have for sure fire approval

Getting your first home mortgage is scary, this is a big deal, and I mean we are talking about big money right? This is a big responsibility but that does not mean that you can’t hack it. Millions of people get mortgages each year and you cannot let a little fear get in the way of you owning a home of your very own. Your family deserves to have a home that they can call your own and if you have everything that you need ready to go when you apply for your mortgage loan the chances of getting approved rise dramatically.

It is all in the details. You need to take stock of what you have and what you need. Just because you need to have several thousand dollars to buy that house it does not mean that the bank is just going to hand it over to you. Before they do that they will ask that you give them a down payment.

This down payment is like security. It is a good faith effort that you are putting out there to show that this loan is important to you and that you are willing to sacrifice what you have to in order to get it. They don’t want to have to repossess your home in a year because you were not really serious about the deal; they want to know that you really mean business.

Your mortgage down payment will probably be somewhere around 20% of the total cost of the home you are planning on purchasing. There are all kinds of reasons for you to put as big a down payment as possible down on the home but the most important one is the fact that the more you put down the lower your interest rate is going to be.

Each year that you still owe money on your home you will be charged interest and this fee can really add up. You may even find that you have spend hundreds of thousands more for your home when all is said and done, than if you had purchased the home outright. But since most of us cannot afford to buy a home all in one fell swoop, we are forced to accept interest as a necessary evil to us having our own roof over our heads.

The down payment is not the only obstacle to getting approved for a home mortgage either. You also have to have all of your documentation ready for your lender. You will need to collect your latest tax returns as well as the ones for the last several years, records of your employment history as well as your debt history and your investment history. These are all very important when the lender is deciding whether or not to actually give you the money that you need for your mortgage.

Getting a mortgage is one of the most exciting and thrilling things that you will ever do so make it count and get the mortgage that you want. Don’t get taken for a ride, make sure that you find out what the going interest rate is on a mortgage at the time that you want to buy and be sure to get that rate from your bank.

Mortgage

This article is shareware. Give this article away for free on your site, or include it as part of any paid package as long as the entire article is left intact including a live link. Copyright © 2006 MITCHELL Hampson

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Landscaping is an art. It’s a place that contributes to the harmony of your surroundings. Landscaping helps you achieve the visual quality you want for your garden and/or yard.
Landscaping doesn’t need to be done by a professional design team. That’s the beauty of it. You and your family, including your children can help assist in designing your environment.
What’s the lanscape projet and design ?
Take a piece of paper or a landscape software, and design your garden. Now you selected plants that will do well in your area and provide the desired effect. Take note of the following factors in choosing plants:
Site and soil conditions. Plants have environmental requirements. You need to be conscious of your particular conditions and consider the following: exposure to light and wind, soil conditions and structures nearby.
• Size and type selection. If you desire a certain plant because of its size and type, you should be aware that they must be handled, planted, and cared for in the proper way.
• Climatic considerations are very important because the plants survival is highly dependent on temperature. Check the plants you’re choosing for your landscape and make certain the climate in your area is suitable.
• Start healthy. Choose plants from a reputable nursery that you know have been properly cared for.
• Prevent pests. There are plants that can resist certain pests. Be sure to choose these plants for your landscape especially if you have identified pests that are a problem in your area.

•Rocks are important to any landscaping. They give functional characteristic and they also have a distinct beauty. When designing a beautiful landscape it’s necessary to plan and choose with care the type of rocks to be used.
•A big garden usually contains some trees and shrubs even before the landscaping process begins. It’s best for a landscaper to observe the area before he starts planning the design.
•With a small garden, having the right kind and size of plants is crucial to the outcome of the whole project.
•Size is an important factor because the size of the plants that will be used in the garden should project an image of a bigger space, even if the area is quite small.
The common concept people have of landscaping is that it’s only good for those who have money to spend since landscaping supplies are very expensive. Often, landscaping materials can be acquired at a low cost and sometimes even for free. The only thing required is one’s creativity and imagination.
For more information : http://landscaping-ideas.how2guide.info

Source: High Quality Article Database - 365Articles.com

If you are going to build a new home you need to waterproof the foundation of it so you won’t have a wet basement in just a few years.

There are different waterproofing products and systems on the market so it really can be confusing. Hence what are your options?

Here is the short overview of the most common foundation waterproofing systems to help you to decide:

1. Liquid rubber foundation waterproofing membranes

Are elastomeric polymerized coatings made from liquid rubber – the same quality material your car tires are made from.

Advantages: They are easy to apply, quick to dry, cold applied. You can do it by yourself, by using sprayer, roller or trowel. The liquid cures into an elastic rubber coating,

able to fill up current small holes and bridge possible future cracks in foundation wall as the building settles down. Rubber is flexible. They also usually come with a long

warranty, and many are environmentally friendly with low solvent content, or solvent free. Very economical.

Disadvantages: Possibility of inconsistency in coverage, but the newest products will help you to determine the “right” thickness by the intensity of color, i.e. if you apply the

products and you see any lighter patches, you just add more liquid. Additional surface preparation and curing may be required. If there are bigger cracks or holes in the

structure you have to fill in with cement or other trowel-grade material before applying the overall coating. Also some of the liquid membranes require longer curing times for

the concrete before they can be applied to insure proper bonding.

2. Hot applied Liquid Rubber Foundation waterproofing products:

It’s a rubberized asphalt compound that forms a strong, flexible monolithic waterproofing membrane. Can be also applied on roofs.

Advantages: Adheres to virtually any structural surface. Ideal for rough uneven surfaces. Monolithic, free of seams, watertight, eliminates water migration and buildup of

moisture. Offers strong protection because of the way it has to be applied.

Disadvantages: The surface has to be primed by primer first. The cost is higher because the product has to be applied in layers – basically you apply first coat of hot liquid

rubber, then you have to quickly firmly press on the fabric reinforced sheet into that hot layer, then apply a second coat of hot liquid rubber waterproofing. Also, depending on

the local building code you may have to apply 2 or 3 of these sheet layers. Because of this, the elasticity is low. And because it is Hot you have to be very careful – the best

is to have it applied by a certified specialist.

3. Sheet membranes

The most common are self-adhering rubberized asphalt membranes composed of rubberized asphalt laminated to a waterproof polyethylene film.

Advantages: The biggest one is consistent thickness because they are “pre-made” to a required standard. Mechanically strong, resistant to hydrostatic pressure. Cover even

the bigger holes or damaged areas.
They can be applied to concrete, metal, wood or masonry surfaces.

Disadvantages: Harder to apply because of their very high “stickiness”, also the cost for in-place is higher. Application requires at least 2 people to put in on properly.

Requires lots of additional work = additional cost. If there are irregularities on the surface you want to put a sheet on they have to be smoothed first with some coat to make

the surface even. You also would need to learn of joint treatment, lap joints, corners, penetration, priming, patching etc. And once the piece is down you won’t get it back up

in reusable condition.

4. Cementitious Waterproofing

Is a cement based flexible waterproofing membrane. It can consist of Portland cement, sand acrylic mixture, plasticizer and other active waterproofing chemicals to increase

it’s durability and effectiveness.

Advantages: Very easy to use, just mix the powder with water according to manufacturers recommendation and apply with brush or trowel. Very accessible - available from

suppliers of masonry products, or specialized dealers. Paintable. Also comes in a variety of colors. In most cases one coat is sufficient, although some areas may be

needing a use of the reinforcing mesh. Low cost. Corrosion and weather resistant. Can be applied as a positive or negative side waterproofing.

Disadvantages: No flexibility – cement does not stretch, so as the structure settles down there are the possibilities of the future cracks. Before applying the surface has to

be free from protrusions, gaping cracks, oils, paints, water repellents and any other foreign material that could act as a bond breaker. Holes must be filled with approved

block filler.

5. Bentonite Waterproofing
is a bentonite clay below-grade foundation waterproofing product which consists of sodium bentonite clay sandwiched between 2 layers of woven and no-woven puncture

resistant polypropylene fabric. Comes as a clay panels and sheets.

Advantages: Can absorb tremendous amount of water. And as it takes the water in the clay swells and pushes itself into cracks and voids where it stays permanently as a

barrier against the water. It is flexible and resistant to most chemicals. Non-toxic, non-polluting. No fumes. Can be applied in cold weather.

Disadvantages: Because of the way the clay works the seal does not form until the foundation is backfilled and the water reaches the bentonite material, which means you

cannot confirm the integrity of the seal.

Summary:
As you see a lot depends on your own situation, needs, requirements and what you feel comfortable with. The best way is to talk to the experts, check the manufacturers

requirements especially for the concrete curing time, temperature limitations and additional labor requirements. Yes, waterproofing of the foundation can seem to be

expensive at the first glance, but remember that it is a Long-term solution which when applied properly will save you lots of time, headache and money in the future, so

please, don’t skimp on it.

Source: High Quality Article Database - 365Articles.com